Mott the Hoople

Mott the Hoople

Mott the Hoople are a rock group from Hereford, United Kingdom, active from 1969 to 1974. Their sound spans country rock, folk rock, glam rock, hard rock, pop rock and rock.

Formation and early years

The band begins as the Doc Thomas Group in Hereford. The founding lineup includes Mick Ralphs on guitar, Stan Tippins on vocals, Pete Overend Watts on bass and Dale “Buffin” Griffin on drums. Verden Allen joins on organ in 1968. The group first performs and records in Italy, where it releases an eponymous album in 1967, and later uses the names the Shakedown Sound and Silence for UK shows while making demos that do not lead to a record deal.

Guy Stevens at Island Records brings the band to wider attention and suggests replacing Tippins with Ian Hunter as lead singer and piano player. After reading the novel Mott the Hoople by Willard Manus, Stevens gives the group its new name.

Studio albums and breakthrough

The band’s debut album, Mott the Hoople (1969), gains cult success. It is followed by Mad Shadows (1970), Wildlife (1971) and Brain Capers (1971), which sell poorly. By 1972 the band is close to splitting up.

David Bowie encourages the group to continue and writes “All the Young Dudes” for them. The song becomes their first major hit. Bowie also produces the album of the same name, which helps establish their commercial profile.

Later work and line-up changes

Subsequent albums include Mott (1973) and The Hoople (1974), both of which achieve commercial success. The line-up changes frequently during this period. Mick Ralphs leaves to form Bad Company and is replaced by Luther Grosvenor, who performs as Ariel Bender.

The band tours extensively in the UK and US, including dates with Queen, and other artists reference its songs, including Queen, R.E.M. and Reunion. After Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson leave, the group shortens its name to Mott and releases Drive On (1975) and Shouting and Pointing (1976), which achieve limited commercial success.

After the original run

Former members later form British Lions with John Fiddler and release two albums before disbanding. Ian Hunter continues as a solo artist and publishes Diary of a Rock'n'Roll Star in 1974, a book about life on the road during the band’s early US tours.

The band reunites on several occasions. Former members come together in 1998 for Shotgun Eyes, alongside a reissue of the Doc Thomas Group album. In 2009 the original lineup plays sold-out shows at London’s Hammersmith Apollo, with Martin Chambers on drums because of Griffin’s health issues. In 2013 the band plays a series of UK dates, with one show recorded for the double album and DVD Live 2013. Dale Griffin dies in 2016 and Overend Watts in 2017.

In 2018 Mott the Hoople perform European shows with Ian Hunter joined by Morgan Fisher and Ariel Bender, along with additional musicians. In 2019 they announce the “Tax the Heat” tour, their first US tour in 45 years, marking the 45th anniversary of their 1974 US tour and the release of The Hoople and Live. The tour features Hunter, Bender, Fisher and supporting musicians, although additional US dates are later cancelled because of Hunter’s tinnitus.

The band is best known for “All the Young Dudes” and for its influence on 1970s rock.